IAP-24-015
Determining the Widespread Risk of Atmospheric Aerosols Released During Environmental Hazard Events, using Satellite-based Observations.
Background:
Environmental hazards such as volcanic eruptions, wildfires and dust storms have the potential to contribute significant volumes of aerosols to the atmosphere. These aerosols can contribute to environmental degradation, through the widespread deposition of particles and impacts to local-global radiation budgets. The grounding of particles can impact polar regions where particles can trigger rapid glacial melting[1] or trigger health crises in those susceptible to pulmonary conditions[2]. In addition, aerosols such as volcanic sulfates can produce acid rain that devastates crop yields and ultimately the economic stability of the impacted region[3]. It has also been observed that the resulting imbalance in the radiation budget on a regional to global scale can cause variations in climatic conditions[4]. As these aerosols and particles can travel significant distances, they can impact communities beyond the immediate area of the environmental hazard. Therefore, a synoptic scale view is needed to assess their impacts. For this reason, satellite-based remote sensing represents a powerful resource in the assessment of the broader impacts of emitted particulates.
Expected responsibilities:
Within this research project the candidate will be responsible for compiling information on the extent and composition of aerosols and/or particles emitted from volcanoes, wildfires and/or during dust storms. Individual events will be tracked, and the composition of the particles will be inferred using existing techniques[5], where these are available. The primary focus of this research, will be to develop new methods of detecting and tracking emitted aerosols and particles, through the analysis of data from NASA’s new PACE sensor (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem: https://pace.oceansciences.org/about.htm). This project represents an opportunity for the selected PhD candidate to develop novel methods for conducting remote observations of environmental hazards with global applicability.
Technical Skills:
It is expected that the candidate will have a strong interest in environmental hazards that generate atmospheric plumes (e.g., volcanoes, wildfires and/or dust storms). The candidate should have experience with the processing of remote sensing data and be proficient in geospatial analysis techniques. Due to the intention to develop novel single- or multi-sensor algorithms for categorising atmospheric plumes, it is expected that the student will have a proficiency with coding, or the capability to refine and develop these skills during their PhD. Guidance will be provided on this algorithm development through the supervisory team.
Click on an image to expand
Image Captions
The eruption plume of Raikoke volcano, as viewed from the International Space Station and NASA’s MODIS sensor. Image source: NASA
Methodology
Deliverables: The primary deliverable of this project will be an algorithm for conducting remote assessment of aerosols using free to access data. It is expected that this will be user friendly and made publicly available upon completion of the PhD, facilitating its widespread use and improving global assessment capabilities.
Novelty: The project will utilise cutting-edge satellite technology to develop new techniques for the analysis of environmental hazard events. The outputs generated as part of this project have the potential to be beneficial to the global hazard assessment community.
Data: Archived and ongoing observations from PACE (NASA), Sentinel-2 and 5p (European Space Agency) and legacy data from MISR, MODIS, ASTER (NASA) & Landsat (United State Geological Service) where relevant.
Key research components:
Environmental Analysis: The selected candidate will select areas of interest and perform investigations into the characteristics of the environmental hazard events. These endeavours are likely to result in the publication of a series of papers categorising the composition of plumes in these individual cases, while providing the opportunity to develop a methodology from algorithm development.
Algorithm Development: A key component of this project will be the development of a targeted algorithm designed to categorise the observations of atmospheric plumes generated by environmental hazard events. The exact details of this will depend on the progress made by the selected candidate and the targets they choose to investigate.
Location: The project will primarily be desk based. Primary data sources will be satellite-based remote sensing data. For established sensor data, algorithms will be available, and it is expected that you will become proficient with the processing of these data. For sensors where the expectation is the development of dedicated algorithms, there may be opportunities to collaborate with national/international research partners, either remotely or in person, where funds allow.
Project Timeline
Year 1
Preparing literature review on related topics. Begin downloading and processing remote sensing data using existing techniques, to become familiar with current capabilities. It is expected that this will be done through the selection and investigation of a relevant environmental hazard event. The output of these analyses will result in the submission of a journal article.
Year 2
Develop multi-sensor methods for the assessment of an environmental hazard event using novel technologies and/or methodologies, refined during the first year of study. It is expected that the developed technique will be written up as a journal article and submitted after the second year.
Year 3
The final year will continue the algorithm development, refinement and validation process and will likely result in the publication of at least one case study analysis using the multi-sensor technique devised.
Year 3.5
Engage with end-users to refine the algorithm and user interface developed, complete & submit thesis, and undertake viva
Training
& Skills
This is a multi-disciplinary project encompassing a) geology/atmospheric/environmental science, b) remote sensing, c) data analysis & d) algorithm development.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop skills in these areas through engagement with their interdisciplinary research supervisors. Additionally, attending training courses, such as those operated through the NASA ARSET (Applied Remote Sensing Training Program) or similar sources, will be encouraged.
The candidate will also be encouraged to take non-subject specific trainings to enable the development of a broader skill set beyond their academic studies, such as those provided through the University of Stirling’s Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS).
References & further reading
NASA PACE: https://pace.oceansciences.org/about.htm
• Remer, L. A., Davis, A. B., Mattoo, S., Levy, R. C., Kalashnikova, O. V., Coddington, O., … & Zhai, P. W. (2019). Retrieving aerosol characteristics from the PACE mission, Part 1: Ocean Color Instrument. Frontiers in Earth Science, 7, 152. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/earth-science/articles/10.3389/feart.2019.00152/full
ESA: https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-1/Satellite_constellation
NASA EOS: https://eospso.nasa.gov/content/nasas-earth-observing-system-project-science-office
References:
1 Kaspari, S., McKenzie Skiles, S., Delaney, I., Dixon, D., & Painter, T. H. (2015). Accelerated glacier melt on Snow Dome, Mount Olympus, Washington, USA, due to deposition of black carbon and mineral dust from wildfire. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 120(7), 2793-2807.
2 Longo, B. M., Yang, W., Green, J. B., Crosby, F. L., & Crosby, V. L. (2010). Acute health effects associated with exposure to volcanic air pollution (vog) from increased activity at Kilauea Volcano in 2008. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 73(20), 1370-1381.
3 Benson, V. (2005). Volcanoes and the economy. Volcanoes and the Environment, 440-467.
4 Parker, D. E., Wilson, H., Jones, P. D., Christy, J. R., & Folland, C. K. (1996). The impact of Mount Pinatubo on world‐wide temperatures. International Journal of Climatology: A Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 16(5), 487-497.
5 Flower, V. J., & Kahn, R. A. (2020). The evolution of Icelandic volcano emissions, as observed from space in the era of NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS). Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 125(19), e2019JD031625. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2019JD031625
